TWO dogs were rescued from a flat after a fire.

Emergency services rushed to a block of flats on Christchurch Road in Boscombe this morning, shortly after 9am.

Neighbours had raised the alarm after hearing smoke alarms coming from the flat.

Four fire crews attended the scene and gained entry to the flat and rescued two dogs, as the occupiers of the flat were not at home.

The dogs were given oxygen using equipment from the Smokey Paws charity and have been taken to the vet as a precaution.

A resident from another flat was also brought to safety, and Dorset Police put in road closures on the road.

The fire service indicated that it believes the fire 'started accidentally in a kitchen appliance'.

A spokesperson for Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue said: “We were called to a block of flats on Christchurch Road, Bournemouth at 9.01am this morning (2 February), after neighbours were made aware of a fire in a first floor flat due to the smoke alarms sounding.

“Four crews attended, from Springbourne, Westbourne, Christchurch and Redhill Park, and firefighters in breathing apparatus gained entry to the affected property and rescued two dogs – the occupier was not at home at the time.

“They also brought a resident from the second floor to safety using a fire escape hood. A hose reel jet and a main jet were used to extinguish the fire, and mechanical ventilation was used to clear the smoke.

“The stop came at 9.53am and a fire investigation is now underway.

“All but one of the appliances have left the scene. The dogs were given oxygen by firefighters using equipment provided by the Smokey Paws charity, and have been taken to a vet for precautionary checks.”

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “We received a report at 9.14am that the fire service was in attendance at a property fire in Christchurch Road in Bournemouth.

“Officers attended to assist with traffic management and road closures have been put in place.”

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 09:06hrs on Friday 02 February to an incident on Christchurch Road, Bournemouth. We sent one double-crewed land ambulance and an operations officer.”